19 Feb 2019

Bye, bye birdie: Native seabird numbers in decline

From Nine To Noon, 9:31 am on 19 February 2019
A seagull flies with a piece of bread during day three of the first International Test cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at University Oval in Dunedin.

Photo: AFP

It's a tough time to be a seabird in New Zealand, with 35% of our 92 resident indigenous species in decline. Climate change, the fishing industry and even cruise ships are all taking a toll on seabird numbers. DOC's principal science adviser on biodiversity, marine species and threats, Graeme Taylor, takes us through what's being done to mitigate the threats.